Recent incident shows problems linger

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2004 | by Alan Levin

The unidentified plane headed toward Manhattan at high speed, prompting an alert at a New York air-traffic-control center. Confusion followed about what steps to take next.

But this isn't a story from Sept. 11. It happened two weeks ago. The story was recounted Thursday to the commission investigating the 2001 attacks as an example of the problems in the nation's air defense that still need to be fixed.

The manager of the air traffic facility, Ben Sliney, told the commission that an official from the military telephoned him to ask whether he wanted a fighter jet to escort the suspicious flight. Sliney said he had never been told he had such power.

"I don't believe the lines of communication are as clear as they should be," Sliney told the commission. His...